Console Corner: Step into a child of war’s shoes

The latest trailer for This War of Mine: The Little Ones shows off actual game footage from the revolutionary PS4 game for the very first time.

The game puts the player in the shoes of a ‘little one’ during the war.

To do that, 11 Bit Studios asks gamers to imagine they are a 10 year old child trapped with your father in a city under siege. There is nowhere to run.

Then you and your father are joined by another two civilians – it may be easier and safer to stay together.

“The building you’re in seems like a good cover”, they say.

It’s already winter, and you start to feel unwell. Bruno – one of the guys who joined your little group and who initially seemed a bit selfish gives you some medication after you ask him for help.

It’s the very last bit of medicine. Let’s hope you feel better, if not someone will have to go and get some more under the cover of night.

Bruno tries to cook something from the last pieces of food he has on an improvised stove. Later, you get bored but your father told you to stay in the shelter because it’s too dangerous outside.

What do you do?

Maybe you could run up and down the stairway? It gets boring after a while. Let’s play some hopscotch then.

This War of Mine cover

Something feels wrong. You notice your father is sad. The other folk also seem a bit down. You realise that things may end up badly. They act normal but they know the truth. And as energetic as you are, those bad feelings sneak into your mind too.

You feel like talking to your dad. You want to hear something good, have a glimpse of your old, happy life. Dad always knows how to cheer you up. It’s not that bad outside, especially when he finds a moment to play rock-paper-scissors with you, right?

Dad is trying to fix a broken wooden bed – the only bed in the building, for you, so at least you don’t have to sleep on the cold floor.

You go to talk to Roman, the other civilian hidding in the shelter with you. Roman is a nice guy. He says he will teach you how to collect rainwater and how to filter it quickly. That’s better. You can help these people after all. Roman promises to teach you how to grow herbs tomorrow.

As the evening comes closer, you feel the tension growing. Dad and the guys talk, someone has to go outside and try to find some food. Then it turns out it will be him. You realise this is very serious. You may not see him return tomorrow…

That is just a glimpse into the kind of experience you will have in TWoM: The Little Ones. You are the narrator of the story and you’ll decide what happens with the father and with his kid.

Intrigued? This promising and utterly original game launches on January 29.